Ice cube machines



5 Sheet-Sheet l R NR N% H U O NQ x r I i mw g 3 hr \S m A Jan. 17, 1961 c. F. BAKER ETAL ICE CUBE MACHINES Filed Dec. 31, 1956 Jan. 17, 1961 -c. F. BAKER ET AL ICE CUBE MACHINES 5 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1956 Jan. 17,1961 6 c. F. BAKER ETAL ICE CUBE MACHINES 5 SheetsSheet 5 Filed Dec. 31', 1956 fnverzZZra/ 62:90. 6 I faker 607196 ffirzneagl fgf gzdsrzztrzefffi ureni I @QJAM Jan. 17, 1961 c. F. BAKER ETYAII.

ICE CUBE MACHINES 5 SheetsSheet 4 Filed Dec. 51, 1956 fnz/erzfarts'" CY jd f. Zea/Pier" 6607196 Jan. 17, 1961 c. F.- BAKER ET AL ICE CUBE MACHINES Filed Dec. 31, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fnve nior's" (gaze rjajzer United States Patent ICE CUBE MACHINES Clyde F. Baker, Muskegon Heights, George P. Kennedy, Conklin, and Valentine M. Kurent, Mnskegon, Mich., assignors to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 31, 1956, Ser. No. 631,539

Claims. (Cl. 62-135) This invention relates to ice cube making machines and more particularly relates to an automatic ice cube making machine which is adapted to be disposed in the freezing compartment of a domestic refrigerator for continuously producing ice cubes.

The present ice cube making machine is an improvement of the ice cube making machine disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,833,123, issued May 6, 1958; of common ownership.

The above-identified copending application discloses an automatic ice cube making machine adapted to be installed in the freezing compartment of a domestic refrigerator and comprises, in general, a tray for receiving Water, means for automatically supplying the desired quantity of water to the tray, a grid structure in the'tray and composed of a plurality of relatively movable plates which divide the tray into a plurality of compartments for making a plurality of ice cubes, an ice-motor for moving the plates relative to one another and effective to loosen the ice cubes from the grid and the tray, an electric motor connected to the grid structure and effective when the ice-motor moves the plates to loosen the cubes to rotate the grid structure and evacuate the cubes from the tray into a receptacle. The machine further comprises an electrical control system including a switch disposed in operative relationship with the receptacle and opened to render the electrical control system ineffectivc when a predetermined quantity of ice cubes have been received by the receptacle.

The present invention is an improvement in the abovementioned machine and it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved mechanism operative upon the electrical control system switch to open the switch to stop operation of the automatic ice cube making machine when the receptacle has received a predetermined quantity of ice cubes from the tray.

In a machine of the present type, water is supplied thereto from the ordinary house main and it is a further object of the present invention to provide means for rendering the electrical control system ineffective to stop operation of the machine in the event the water supply fails.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the ice cube making machine;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partially in section, of the machine taken on line 2-2 of Fig..1;

Fig. 3 is an end view looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, partially in section, taken on line 4-4of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5. is a cross sectional view of; the tray structure taken along the arrows 5-5 of Fig. 4;v

'ice

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the icemotor of the tray structure;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; I

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view taken on line 11-11- of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit of the machine.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the present ice cube making machine may be installed in the freezing compartment A of a domestic refrigerator B, the com partment A being surrounded by a continuous evaporator C. The machine, in general, comprises an ice cube tray D having a grid structure E disposed therein, the grid structure being actuated by an ice-motor F to loosen the ice cubes from the grid structure and the tray. An electric motor G is operatively connected to the grid structure E to rotate the same to evacuate the loosened ice cubes from the tray D. A receptacle H is disposed within the freezing compartment A and beneath the tray D so that when the motor G rotates the grid structure, the ice cubes will fall from the tray into the receptacle H for storage. A housing I is bolted or otherwise secured to a wall of the freezing compartment A and this housing acts both as a support for the tray structure D and as an enclosure for an actuating cam mechanism J. (see Fig. 4).

Referring now to the drawings, the tray D, made of aluminum or any other suitable metal, has an upwardly extending side bracket 1 secured to a sidewall of the freezing compartment A. The tray D receives the grid structure E which divides the. tray into a plurality of individual compartments for making a plurality of ice cubes. The grid structure E comprises a longitudinal vertically disposed plate 2 and a plurality of transverse or divider plates 3. Each of the transverse plates 3 is provided with a slot 4 and the longitudinal plate 2 is provided with a plurality of V-sha'ped slots 5. Each transverse plate 3., with its slot 4, is adapted to rest in the plate 3, with its slot 4; is adapted to rest in the V-shaped slots 5 of the longitudinal plate 2, the V-shaped slots permitting pivotal movement of the transverse plates 3 on the longitudinal plate 2. As will be noted from Fig. 5, the tray D and the transverse plates 3 are of substantially semi-circular shape.

A longitudinal horizontal plate 6 is provided for pivotally moving the transverse plates 3 relative to the longitudinal plate 2 to loosen the ice cubes from the grid struc-. ture and the tray. Plate 6 has a plurality of slots 7 and 8 at its edges for receiving the upper portions of the transverse plates 3. A slot 9 is provided in the plate 6 for receiving an extension or ear 10 of the vertical longitudinal plate 2. The extension or ear 10 is provided with a cutout portion 12. The other end of the plate 2 has an extension or ear 13 provided with a longitudinal slot 14'.

A yoke element 15 is attached to the horizontal plate '6 by means of rivets 16 or other suitable fastening means (Fig. 1); The yoke element 15 has a pair of depending arms17 formed thereon (Fig. 4) and the arms 17 straddle the vertical plate 2. The arms 17 carry a pin 18 Slide ably disposed in the longitudinal slot 14 of the plate 2. As seen, the slot 14 provides a lost motion connection between the vertical plate 2 and the horizontal plate 6. This lost-motion connection permits relative movement between the plate 2 and the horizontal plate 6 so that thehorizontal plate-6 can move the transverse plates 3 from a first position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, in which the ice cubes are frozen, to a second position shown in broken lines in Fig. 4, in which the ice cubes are loosened from the plates 3, plate 2 and the tray D.

The ice-motor F is provided for moving the horizontal plate 6 and thereby plates 3 relative to the vertical plate 2. The ice-motor is in the form of a cylinder member connected to the longitudinal plate 2 and having a portion thereof filled with a liquid which expands upon freezing, and another portion which slidably receives a piston, one end of which is connected to the horizontal plate 6 so that as the liquid within the cylinder freezes and expands, the piston will move the plate 6 and the transverse plates 3 relative to the plate 2 to loosen the frozen ice cubes from the grid structure and tray. The ice-motor F is disposed in a longitudinal slot or cutout portion 19 in the horizontal plate 6 and comprises an elongated cylinder or tube 20 having a liquid-filled por' tion 22 and a portion 23 for slidably receiving a piston 24. The portion 22 of the cylinder 20 is completely filled with water or any other suitable fluid or liquid which expands on freezing. It may be desirable to use a liquid which has a freezing point lower than water so that there will be no danger of the ice-motor freezing and expanding prior to the freezing of the ice in the tray. We have found, for example, that either a solution of water and sodium nitrate, or a solution of water and sodium-metasilicate, is suitable as the freezing liquid.

The tube 20 is threadedly or otherwise connected to a bifurcated member 25. The bifurcated member 25 has a pin 26 extending therethrough and the extension or ear 10 of the plate 2 receives the bifurcated member 25 with the pin 26 of the member 25 resting in the cutout portion 12 of the extension 10.

A groove 27 is provided in the bifurcated member 25 and a projection 28 is provided in the vertical plate 2. The projection 28 rests in the groove 27 to provide a reaction point for the ice-motor as will be hereinafter described. A yoke member 29, which provides a support for the icemotor F, straddles the slot 19 in the plate 6 and is fixedly secured to the plate 6 by rivets 30 or suitable fastening means. A bifurcated extension 32 is provided at one end of the piston 24 and this bifurcation receives the portion of the horizontal plate 6 at the right end of the slot 19. A pin 33 extends through the bifurcated extension 32 and the plate 6 for securing these members together. A groove 34 is provided in the piston 24 and an O-ring 35 is disposed therein for providing a fluid-tight seal for the liquid compartment 22 of the cylinder 20.

A metal compression spring 36 is provided for returning the piston member 24 to its original position when the liquid in the cylinder 22 melts. The spring 36 surrounds the piston 24 and is disposed between an outwardly extending annular flange 37 on the piston and an inturned annular flange 38 of a housing 39. The housing 39 is actually an extension of the cylinder 20 and is connected thereto by a snap ring 40. The snap ring 40 rests within a groove 42 in the housing 39 and constantly abuts against a flange 43 on the end of the cylinder 22 due to the pressure of the spring 36 urging the housing 39 to the right as seen in Fig. 6.

To prevent any possibility of water coming into contact with the piston and spring, a rubber washer 44 is disposed around the piston 24 and abuts against the inturned flange 38 of the housing 39 to provide a fluidtight seal at this end of the housing. A metal washer 45 is placed between the end of the spring 36 and the rubber washer 44 so that the spring, when under compression, will not deform or destroy the washer 44. Sealing means is also provided for the other end of the housing 39 adjacent the snap ring 40 and comprises a plastic dilator sleeve 46 shrunk over the cylinder 20 and housing 39.

When the freezing liquid contained within the portion 22 of the cylinder 20 freezes, there is sufficient expansion of the frozen liquid to force the piston 24 axially of the cylinder 20. Since the piston 24 is attached to the plate 6 at one end thereof by the pin 33 and since the cylinder 20 is attached to the longitudinal plate 2 by the pin 26 and groove 27, the expansion of the frozen liquid in the ice-motor moves the piston toward the right (Fig. 4) in the cylinder, and the plate 6 will be moved relative to the plate 2 carrying the transverse plates 3 so that the grid structure and ice-motor assume the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4. This movement of the grid structure loosens the ice cubes from the tray and from the grid structure so that they are now ready to be removed from the tray.

The ice cubes are removed from the tray by rotating the grid structure E relative to the tray. The means for rotating the grid structure comprises a shaft 47 driven by the electric motor G. The grid structure E is' drivingly connected to the shaft 47 by attaching the extension 10 of the plate 2 and the yoke element 15 to the shaft 47. The extension 10 of the plate 2 is received in a slot 48 in the shaft 47. The extension 10 has a longitudinal slot 49 therein which receives a pin 50 which extends through the shaft 47. The slot 49 permits the plate 2 to move to its dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 while preventing the grid structure from becoming separated from the shaft when it is rotated. The shaft 47 has reduced fiat sides 52 thereon and the yoke member 15 has two upstanding fingers 53 slidably engaging the fiat sides 52 to provide a driving connection between the yoke 15 and the shaft 47. A pin 54 is provided through the upper portion of the fingers 53 to prevent the yoke 15 from becoming separated from the shaft 47 when it is rotated, but permitting movement of the yoke 15 relative to the shaft 47 during operation of the ice-motor.

The cam mechanism J is integral with a hollow shaft 55 slidably and rotatably disposed on the shaft 47. The shaft 55 is rotatably connected to the shaft 47 by a pin 57 extending through the shaft 47 and into a slot 56 in the shaft 55. The shaft 47 is connected to the electric motor G by means of a flexible coupling 58. The cou' pling 58 surrounds and is connected to the shaft 47 by a spline. A pin 59 connects the coupling 58 to the motor shaft. A compression spring 60 is disposed between the cam mechanism J and the coupling 58, the spring tendmg to move the cam mechanism J and the hollow shaft 55 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. A hearing 62 which forms a part of the motor G, extends through an opening in the wall of the freezing compartment A. A bearing 63 is provided in an upstanding end portion 64 of the tray D for receiving the other end of the shaft 47. A pillow block or bearing 65 is fastened to a flat portion 66 of the tray D and receives the hollow shaft 55. A flange 67 is provided on the tray and this flange is fixedly secured to the housing I.

A microswitch 68 is provided in the housing I for energizing the electric motor G to rotate the shaft 47 and the grid structure E which is attached thereto, and a microswitch 69 is provided for automatically controlling the water supply to the tray D. Both microswitches are closed and opened by operation of the cam mechanism J.

The cam mechanism J has a peripheral face generally indicated at 70 (Fig. 10) provided with radially and circumferentially spaced, substantially concentric, arcuate surfaces 72 and 73, terminating at adjacent ends thereof by an abrupt shoulder 74 and having a flat cam surface 75 between and connecting the other ends of the surfaces 72 and 73. The cam mechanism I also has a lateral face 76 defined by a fiat surface 77 and a raised cam surface 78, said surfaces lying in parallel planes, 0pposite ends of the cam surface 78 at the juncture of said flat surface 77 being defined by a sloping, leading shoulder 79 and a trailing shoulder 80. The cam J is rotatable in a clockwise direction. as shown by the arrow in Fig.

'10, the abrupt shoulder 74 on the peripheral face 70 lying ahead of and adjacent to the shoulder 80 of the peripheral face 70, in the direction of rotation of the cam J. The fiat cam surface 75 is provided for closing the microswitch 69 and the abrupt shoulder 74 is providedfor opening the microswitch 69.

he microswitch 68 is operatively connected to the earn mechanism 1 by means of a roller 82 carried by a flat metal spring strip 81 which urges the roller 82 against the lateral face 76 of the cam 70.

The water supplying means for the present machine comprises a solenoid-operated metering valve 83 (Figs. 1 and 2) having an inlet connected to the ordinary house water supply by a nipple 84 and other suitable pipe or tubing (not shown). A nipple 85 connects the valve 83 with a tube 86 extending over and above the tray D, the tube being perforated at 87 to provide openings for directing water into the tray D. The valve 83 is of the type which meters a desired quantity of water tothe tube 86 and is actuated by a solenoid 88, such solenoid-operated valve being shown in US. Patent No. 2,717,497, issued September 13, 1955. To prevent any possibility of freezing of water in the tube 86, an electrical heater 89 (Figs. 7 and 8) is attached to the tube. Since the tube 86 is made of metal, heat will be conducted from that portion of the tube 86 adjacent the heater 89 throughout the length of the tube.

The microswitch 69 is operatively connected to the cam mechanism J by means of a button 90 which is spring pressed against the peripheral face 70 of the cam mechanism.

The operation of the ice cube making machine will now be described. Assuming the tray D to be filled with water and thereafter frozen to form ice cubes, the liquid in the cylinder 20 of the ice-motor P will subsequently freeze and expand to move the piston 24 away from the cylinder 20, as herein'before pointed out, causing the plate 6 to move to the right as seen in Figs. 4 and 6 and loosen the ice cubes. Since the yoke element 15 is fixedly attached to the plate 6, the yoke is also moved to the right which moves the shaft 55 and cam J to the right on the shaft 47 to move the roller 82, engaging the flat surface 77, to its position wherein the microswitch 68 closes the electrical circuit to start the motor G. The motor G rotates the shaft 47, the grid structure E, and the cam mechanism J in a counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrows in Fig. 5. As the grid structure is rotated, the loosened ice cubes will be evacuated from tray D and will fall into the receptacle H. Means are provided to dislodge any of the loosened cubes from the grid structure E and which do not fall away from the grid structure as it is rotated. As seen in Figs. 4 and 5, this dislodging means comprises a rod or bar 92 having a plurality of fingers 93 fixedly secured thereto. It is to be noted in Fig. 4 that each of the fingers 93 is disposed in the path of an ice cube compartment of the grid structure E and that notches 94 are provided in the bottom of the plate 2 so that the plate will clear the fingers 93. The bar 92 has an arm 95 fixedly secured to one end thereof and an arm 96 secured to its other end. The arms 95 and 96 are pivotally secured respectively to the bracket 64 of the tray D and to the housing I by screws 97 and 98. A torsion spring 99 surrounds the shaft of the screw 97 and has its opposite ends respectively engaging the arm 95 and bracket 64 to urge the bar 92 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5.

As the motor G continues to rotate the shaft 47, the grid structure E, and the cam mechanism J, the button 90 of the microswitch 69 will be depressed by the cam surface 75 to actuate the solenoid S3 of the water valve 83 to permit water to enter the tube 36 from whence it flows through the perforations 87 into the tray D. The tube 86 is disposed directly above the ice-motor P so that the relatively warm waterfalling upon the icemotor will melt the frozen liquid inthe cylinder 20. thereof to permit operation of the compressed spring 36' to return the grid structure E to its original position. Since the water valve 83 is actuated by. the cam surface. at about 180 rotation of the grid structure and since the spring 60 moves the cam mechanism I back to its original position on the shaft 47 when the ice-motor, returns to its original position, the microswitch 68 would be opened at this time to break the electric cir.- cuit and stop the motor G. However, as the water valve. is actuated to permit water to enter the tube 86., the roller 82 of the motor microswitch 68 rides upon the lateral cam surface '78 so that the microswitch 68 will remain energized after the cam has moved back to its original. position and until the shaft 47, the grid structure E, and the cam I have been rotated by the motor G approximately 360 at which time the roller 82 will drop off the. cam surface 78 to de-energize' the microswitch 68 and stop the motor. It is to be noted that the shoulder 74 of the peripheral cam 70 is immediately ahead of the shoulder of the motor microswitch cam surface 78 so that the button will move away from the microswitch 69 to de-energize the water valve solenoid 88 and. shut off the water supply just before the roller 82 drops, off the shoulder 80.

As will be understood from the foregoing description, the sliding of the cam J and its shaft 55 on the driven shaft 47 controls the energization of the motor for the, present machine. It will be further understood that the frozen liquid in the ice-motor F must melt, due to contact with the relatively warm water which is admitted to the tray D, so that the cam mechanism can slide to a motor de-energizing position. If, for any reason, thesupply of water to the machine were to fail during its automatic operation, the fluid in the ice-motor F would; not melt and the motor G would continue to rotate the grid structure. Therefore, means are provided for shutting off the electric motor G when the water supply fails; Referring to Figs. 4 and 8-11 inclusive, the cam mechanism J is provided'with a cylinder or bore 100 in the fiat lateral surface 77 thereof and a dumbell-shaped piston: like member 101 is slidable therein, the depth of the cylinder 100 being about double the length of the piston 101. The piston 101 has a shaft 102 extending through a reduced bore 1.03 in the cam] and a flange 104- is provided on the end of the shaft. A slot 105 is provided in the arcuate surface 72 of the cam mechanism J, said slot being in communication with the cylinder 100 as seen in Figs. 4 and 10. A spring wire 106 is attached to the housing I by means of a boss 107 and a screw 108 and a depending portion 109 of the wire member is adapted at times to ride on the surface 72 and at other times to rest in the slot 105 and. in the cylinder 100 over the shaft 102. A bend 110 is provided in the wire 106. A spring strip 111 is fixed at one end" to the housing I and has a tongue or flange 112 on its other end adapted to engage the flange 104 of the pistonshaft 102.

The spring operates in the following manner to shut off the ice cube machine when the supply of water fails:

As seen in Figs. 10 and 11, the depending portion 109 of the spring 106 rests in the slot 105 and in the cylinder 100 to prevent any movement of the piston 101 to the left as seen in Fig. 11. freezes to move the plate 6, the yoke 15, the shaft 55, and the cam mechanism J to a position wherein the roller 82 closes the microswitch 68, the electric motor G1 is started to rotate the shaft 47 and the cam mechanism 1. As the cam member J is rotated in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 10, the depending portion 109 of the spring 106 will move out ofthc slot 105 and will move along the peripheral surface 70 of the cam mechanism J. pletes its 360 cycle and after the freezing liquid inthe ice motor has melted, the spring member 60 will move As the liquid in the ice-motor F V As the cam mechanism J com the cam mechanism I to its original position and the depending portion 109 of the spring 106 will again move into the slot 105 so that the cam mechanism is in condition to again actuate the microswitch 68. It is to be noted that the face of the piston 101, when the depending portion 109 of the spring 106 is in the slot 105 is flush with the lateral surface 77 of the cam mechanism I so that the roller 82 in the normal operation of the machine will be moved to actuate the microswitch 68 whenever the ice-motor moves the cam mechanism 1. However, in the event water is not permitted to enter the tube 86 and melt the freezing liquid in the ice-motor cylinder 20, the depending portion 109 of the wire 106 will not move into the slot 105 as the cam mechanism I completes its full revolution but will rest upon the arcuate surface 72 of the cam mechanism. A a result, the roller 82, when it drops off the lateral cam surface 78 at the shoulder 80 will drop against the piston 101, and since the portion 109 is not in the slot and against the piston to prevent its movement to the left as seen in Fig. 11, the roller 82 with its spring arm 83 will move the piston 101 to the left, thereby permitting the roller 82 to move into the cylinder 100 and away from the microswitch 68 to open the microswitch to stop the electric motor G. The ice cube machine is thus inoperative even though the ice-motor F is in its expanded position. The machine will remain iioperative until the spring strip 111 is manually operated to push the piston 101 into the position shown in Fig. 11 to actuate the microswitch 68. When the liquid in the ice-motor has been melted, the cam mechanism I will return to its original position and the depending portion 109 of the wire 106 will enter the slot 105. However, the piston 101 is in a position immediately beneath the slot 105 and therefore the depending portion 109 cannot enter the cylinder 100. When the spring strip 111 is forced against the fiange 104 to move the shaft 102 and the piston 101 to a position actuating the microswitch 68, the depending portion 109 wiil drop into the cylinder 100 and over the shaft 102. Therefore, it is necessary that manual pressure he applied to the strip 111 until the electric motor G has turned the cam mechanism J sufficient for the depending portion 109 to ride out of the slot 105, which is for only a few seconds.

Means are also provided for stopping operation of the present automatic ice cube making machine when a predetermined quantity of ice cubes have been made. The ice cube receptacle H rests upon a support 113 made of wire or other suitable material. The support 113 is pivoted as at 114 and has an upstanding inverted U- shaped member 115.

Referring now to Figs. 7-9 inclusive, the microswitch 68 is yieldably mounted on and carried by a flat metal spring member 116 which is fixedly secured to the housing I by screws 116a or other suitable fastening means. The spring member 116 rests against a screw stop 117, as best seen in Fig. 7, so that the roller 82 normally engages the lateral surface 76 of the cam mechanism J and the member 83 is in a position to operate the microswitch.

The amount of movement of the ice-motor F and consequently the plate 6 and the grids 3 can be controlled by the screw 117. By moving the screw 117 to the right as seen in Fig. 7, the microswitch 68 and its actuator 82 will be moved to the right and it will therefore take a greater movement of the ice-motor to move the cam mechanism J a sufficient axial distance to actuate the microswitch. Conversely, if the screw 117 is moved to the left as seen in Fig. 7, the less will be the required movement of the ice-motor to actuate the microswitch. Thus the screw 117 is used to control the extent of movement of the ice-motor and the grids 3.

The microswitch 68 and its mounting member 116 are operatively associated with the ice cube receptacle H so that when a predetermined quantity of ice cubes have been made and stored in the receptacle, the microswitch in an outturned portion 121 of the member 116 and the lever 118 is slidably received in this slot. Thus, the lever 118 can move up and down due to the pivot 119 but cannot move laterally with respect to the member 116. The lever 118 has a surface 122 outturned toward the microswitch 68 and terminating in a lip 123 projecting inwardly toward the cam mechanism J. The raised lateral cam surface 73 of the cam mechanism J has a projection 124 thereon, a part of which extends beyond the periphery thereof. The projection 124 has an inclined surface 125 thereon. The lever 118 has a flange 126 thereon and connected to this flange is a rod 127. The rod 127 is operatively connected to the member 115 of the receptacle support 113 by a coupling 128 and a rod 129. A boss 130 having an opening 132 therein and a shoulder 133 thereon is provided on the housing I. A collar 134 (Fig. 8) surrounds the rod 127 and is adjustably fixed to the rod by means of a screw 135. A compression spring 136 is disposed around the rod 127 and between the collar 134 and the shoulder 133 of the boss 130. By adjusting the tension on the spring 136 by means of the collar 134 and screw 135, the amount of ice cubes desired in the receptacle H can be effectively controlled.

When the predetermined quantity of cubes have been made and stored in the receptacle during the automatic operation of the machine, the weight of the cubes will overcome the tension in the spring 136, and the rods 129 and 127 will move the lever 118 to its dotted line position shown in Fig. 8 at which time the outturned portion 122 thereof will be adjacent the microswitch 63. The lip 123 will now be in the path of the projection 124 on the cam mechanism I. As the cam mechanism J is rotated to evacuate a tray of cubes, the inclined surface 125 of the projection 124 will come into contact with the lip 123 of the lever 118 forcing the outturned portion 122 against the microswitch 68 to move the microswitch away from the roller strip 83 and open the microswitch to stop the electric motor G and operation of the machine. The cam mechanism I will remain in this position until sutficient cubes have been removed from the receptacle at which time the spring 136 will be effective to move the lip 123 of the lever 118 out of engagement with the projection 124 to permit the roller strip 83 to again close the microswitch and start the motor G and the automatic operation of the machine will continue.

It is also desirable that manual means be provided for stopping the operation of the machine. A knob 137 (Fig. 7) is provided for this purpose. The knob 137 is rotatably disposed on the rod 127 and rests upon a collar 138 which in turn rests upon a shoulder 139 of the coupling 128. A plurality of cam surfaces 140 are provided on the inside of the knob 137 around its periphery and a plurality of pins 142 are fixedly secured to the housing I. Thus, when it is desired to stop operation of the machine, the knob 137 is rotated and the cam surfaces 140 in engagement with the pins 142 force the knob 137 downwardly as seen in Fig. 7 to pull the rod 127 downwardly to a position whereby the projection 124 of the cam mechanism I will come into contact with the lip 123 of the lever 118 to move the microswitch to its motor deenergizing position.

Since, as above pointed out, the operation of the present machine is controlled by the weight of the ice cubes in the receptacle, it is necessary to provide a partition 143 in the freezing compartment A to prevent packages of frozen foods or the like, which are stored in compartment A, from coming into contact with the receptacle H and accidently stopping operation of the machine due to the weight of the packages. The partition 143 should be imperforate and may take the form of a wire rack as seen in Fig. 3.

We have found that unless the housing I is well ventia lated, frost will form therein. A. plurality of holes 144 are provided in the housing I for ventilation purposes.

While we have described our invention in connection. with one specific embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and the scopeof our invention is de-. fined solely by the appended claims which should be. construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.

We claim:

1. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a liquid to be frozen, means for supplying. liquid to said tray, means for freezing said liquid, a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing the frozen liquid into blocks, power means associated with the grid structure for moving-the plates. relative to one another from a, first position to a second. position and effective to loosen the blocks from the grid structure and tray while said grid structure is disposed within said tray, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said grid structure to said shaft, a control member rotatable with and movable axially on said shaft, said control member having a lateral face defined by a flat surface, means operatively connecting said grid structure to said control member, an electrical circuit, an electric motor in said circuit and adapted to drive said shaft, a switch for controlling said motor, said control member beingmoved axially by the operation of saidpower means to move said plates to a second position whereby said flat surface actuates said switch to start the electric motor to rotate the grid structure and therebyremove the loosened blocks from the tray, and means associated with, the flat surface of said lateral face of said control member to prevent said power means; from actuating said switch when said liquid supplying means is, inoperative to supply liquid to said tray.

2. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a liquid to be frozen, means for supplying liquid to said tray, means for freezing said liquid, a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing the frozen liquid into blocks, power means associated with the grid structure for moving the plates relative to one another from a first position to a second position and effective to loosen the blocks from the grid structure and tray whilesaid grid structure is disposed withinsaid tray, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said grid structure to said shaft, a cam member rotatable with and movable axially on said shaft, said cam member having a lateral face defined by a fiat surface and an axially spaced cam surface, the juncture of said surfaces being defined by first and second shoulders disposed in spaced relation to the direction of rotation of said cam, means operatively connecting said grid structure to said cam member, an electrical circuit, an electric motor in said circuit and adapted to drive said shaft, a switch for controlling said motor, said cam member being moved axially by the operation of said power means to move said plates to a second position whereby said flat surface actuates said switch to start the electric motor to rotate the grid structure and thereby remove the loosened blocks from the tray, means for returning said plates to said first position, rotation of said cam causing said first shoulder and said raised cam surface to maintain said first switch actuated after the plates have been returned to their first position and before the grid structure has been returned to the tray, further rotation of said cam member effecting movement of said second shoulder beyond said switch inactivating said switch when said grid has been returned to the tray, and means associated with said cam member to prevent said power means from actuating said switch when said liquid supplying means is inoperative to supply liquid to said tray.

3. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving a liquid to be frozen, means for supplying liquid to said tray, means for freezing said liquid, a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing the frozen liquid into blocks, power i'nearis as sociated with the grid structure for moving the plates relative to one another from a first position to a second position and effective to loosen the blocks from the grid structure and tray while said grid structure is disposed within said tray, a rotatable shaft, means connectingsaid grid structure to said shaft, a cam member rotatable with and movable axially on said shaft, said cam member having a peripheral surface and also a lateral face defined by a flat surface and an axially spaced cam surface, means operatively connecting said grid structure to said cam member, an electrical circuit, an electric motor in said circuit and adapted to drive said shaft, a switch for controlling said motor, means for actuating said switch, said cam member being moved axially by the operation of said power means'to move said plates to a second position whereby said flat surface engages said switch actuating mechanism to energize said switch I to start the electric motor to rotate the grid structure and thereby remove the loosened blocks from the tray, means associated with said cam member to prevent the power means from moving said switch actuating mechanism to energize said switch to start said electric motor when said liquid supplying means is inoperative, said last named means comprising a bore in said fiat surface of said cam member and extending transversely through. said cam member, said bore being defined by an enlarged. portion and a reduced portion, a piston-like element slid-- ably disposed in the enlarged portion of said bore and; having a flat outer face which is normally flush with said: flat surface and adapted to engage said switch actuating; mechanism, said piston-like element having a shaft slid. ably disposed in said reduced portion, a longitudinal slot:

in said peripheral face in communication with said en larged portion of said bore, a resilent member mounted on said housing and adapted to engage said peripherali face and to enter said slot and said, enlarged bore when: the face of said piston-like member is flush with said. lateral face to hold said piston-like element in its normals switch actuating position, and adapted to engage said: peripheral face at a point axially removed from, saidl longitudinal slot when said water supplying means is. inoperative to supply water to the machine, so that when; said switch actuating mechanism comes into contact with: the face of said piston-like element, said element will move into said bore whereby to deactivate said switch: actuating mechanism.

4. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving water; means for freezing said water into ice, a grid structure: in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing the ice into blocks, power means associated. with the grid structure for moving the plates relative: to one another and effective to loosen the blocks fromr the grid structure and tray while said grid structure is. disposed within said tray, a rotatable shaft, means con-- meeting said grid structure to said shaft, a cam member" rotatable with and movable axially on said shaft, said? cam member having a lateral face, a peripheral face, and. a projection extending radially beyond said peripheral. face, a housing for said cam member, means operatively connecting said grid structure to said cam member, an. electrical circuit, an electric motor in said circuit and adapted to drive said shaft, a switch in said circuit, means yieldably mounting said switch, said cam member being; moved axially by the operation of said power means to energize said switch to start operation of the electric motor to rotate the grid structure and thereby remove the loosened blocks from the tray, said motor also rotating said cam member, a receptacle disposed beneath saidtray for receiving and storing the ice, and means between said receptacle and switch operative upon the storage of' a predetermined amount of ice in said receptacle to open said switch and stop the motor, said last named means including a lever pivoted at one end to said switch mounting means and having ts other end disposed adjacent said;

switch, said lever having a first position wherein it is out of engagement with said switch and having a second position wherein it is in engagement with said switch and in a position for said other end to be contacted by said cam projection, an element operatively connecting said receptacle to said lever whereby said lever will be moved from its first position to its second position when a predetermined amount of ice cubes have been stored in said receptacle, rotation of the cam member by the motor causing said projection to engage said other end of said lever to move said lever and said switch to a switch opening position to stop the motor.

5. In an ice making machine, a tray for receiving water, means for freezing said water into ice, a grid structure in the tray and composed of relatively movable plates for dividing the ice into blocks, power means associated with the grid structure for moving the plates relative to one another and effective to loosen the blocks from the grid structure and tray while said grid structure is disposed within said tray, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said grid structure to said shaft, a cam member rotatable with and movable axially on said shaft, said cam member having a lateral face defined by a fiat surface and an axially spaced cam surface, the juncture of said surface being defined by first and second shoulders disposed in spaced relation to the direction of rotation of said cam; a peripheral face provided with circumferentially spaced and also radially spaced outer and inner substantially concentric arcuate surfaces terminating at adjacent ends thereof by an abrupt shoulder and having a flat inclined surface between and connecting the other ends of said surfaces; and having a projection thereon extending beyond said peripheral face, means operatively connecting said grid structure to said cam member, an electrical circuit, an electric motor in said circuit and adapted to drive said shaft, a first switch in said circuit for controlling the operation of said motor, means yield ably mounting said switch, means for admitting water to said tray including an inlet valve, a second switch in said circuit for controlling said inlet valve and having normally open contacts positioned adjacent the inner radially spaced surface of the peripheral face of said cam, said cam member being moved axially by the operation of said power means to move said plates to a second position whereby said fiat surface energizes said first switch to start operation of the electric motor to rotate the grid structure and thereby remove the loosened blocks from the tray, said motor also rotating said cam member to close the contacts by engagement thereof with the fiat surface of said peripheral face and said outer surface to actuate said second switch to open said inlet valve to permit water to enter said tray, the contacts of said switch remaining closed until rotation of said cam causes said switch to pass beyond said abrupt shoulder of said cam member whereupon the contacts of said second switch open to close the water inlet valve, means for returning said plates to said first position, the rotation of said cam causing said first shoulder and said axially spaced cam surface to maintain said first switch actuated after the plates have been returned to their first position and after the grid structure has been returned to the tray, further rotation of said cam member etfecting movement of said second shoulder beyond said first switch, inactivating said first switch when said grid has been returned to the tray, a receptacle disposed beneath said tray for receiving and storing the ice, and means between said receptacle and said first switch operative upon the storage of a predetermined amount of ice in said receptacle to open said first switch and stop the motor, said last named means including a lever pivoted at one end to said switch mounting means and having its other end disposed adjacent said switch, said lever having a first position wherein it is out of engagement with said switch and having a second position wherein it is in engagement with said switch and in a position for said other end to be contacted by said cam projection, an element operatively connecting said receptacle to said lever whereby said lever will be moved from its first position to its second position when a predetermined amount of ice cubes have been stored in said receptacle, rotation of the cam member by the motor causing said projection to engage said other end of said lever to move said lever and said switch to a switch opening position to stop the motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,717,501 Anderson Sept. 13, 1955 2,757,520 Sampson et a1. Aug. 7, 1956 2,782,609 Galin Feb. 26, 1957 2,833,123 Kennedy et a]. May 6, 1958 2,840,507 Heath June 24, 1958 2,844,008 Barton July 22, 1958 2,846,854 Galin Aug. 12, 1958 

